THE FAWCETT FLYER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 - Senator David Fawcett
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1
THE FAWCETT FLYER
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
APRIL 2018
1 As many of the challenges of 2020 have carried over into this new year,
the Australian Government has continued to prioritise the physical and
economic health of all Australians. There are already positive signs that
this year will provide a return to pre-COVID normal across a number of
areas, and the Government is working to bring these to fruition.
An encouraging development to occur in the first two months of 2021
is the commencement of COVID-19 vaccinations in South Australia,
and throughout the rest of the country. Our Government has invested
more than $3.3 billion in securing COVID-19 vaccines for all Australians
– funding over 150 million vaccine doses in total across the 4 vaccine
agreements secured.
Another promising outcome is the quadrilateral cooperation between
Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, embodied in the ‘Quad’
which recently held a leader’s meeting attended by Prime Minister
Morrison, Prime Minister Modi, Prime Minister Suga and President Biden
respectively. This was the first time the four leaders had met.
United in a shared vision for the free and open Indo-Pacific, these
nations, through the Leaders Meeting, recommitted to promoting a free,
open rules-based order, rooted in international law to advance security
and prosperity and counter threats to both in the Indo-Pacific and globally.
This shared commitment for the security, stability and prosperity of our
region is good news for our nation and our pacific neighbours.
In preparation for the next federal election, congratulations to the
preselected South Australian Liberal Senate candidates – incumbents
Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham and Senator Andrew McLachlan,
and new senate candidates Ms Kerrynne Liddle and Dr Rachel Swift.
They are all very capable, competent, and experienced individuals who
will offer South Australians sound representation.
For more information on any matters in this edition
of the Fawcett Flyer or other matters of a federal
nature, please contact my office via the details
available on the back cover.
Kind regards,
SENATOR THE HON
DAVID FAWCETT
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
COMMITTEE 2
UPDATE
The Joint Standing Committee on Policy Institute’s ‘Policy, Guns
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade and Money’ Podcast to discuss
(JSCFADT) recently completed the JSCFADT’s recommendations.
Inquiry into the implications of the Speaking with Brendan Nicholson,
COVID-19 pandemic for Australia’s I discussed how failure points must
foreign affairs, defence and trade, be identified and mitigated in our
and I tabled the Committee’s report supply chains particularly when
in my role as Chair in the Senate in our nation’s critical systems could
late 2020. be detrimentally impacted, how a
whole-of-government approach
The Committee’s report made could assure greater success in
16 recommendations – each a identifying and mitigating these
constructive step our Government weaknesses, and how government
could take to improve our national procurement rules can change to
resilience, as COVID-19 revealed support long term strengthening of
weaknesses to critical national our national resilience. To listen to
systems which are essential to ASPI’s podcast, click here or scan
Australia’s ability to function as the following QR Code.
a secure, prosperous, first world
nation. In 2021, my attention turns to
advocating for the implementation
of these recommendations. In
advocating for improvement to our
national resilience, I was interviewed
for the Australian Strategic
THE FAWCETT FLYER
The Parliamentary Joint Committee that threats to the operation of
3 for Intelligence and Security’s work Australia’s critical infrastructure
grew in January and February assets continue to be significant -
with the new Inquiry into extremist threats which range from natural
movements and radicalism in hazards (including weather events)
Australia referred by Minister to human induced threats (including
Dutton, as well as the Inquiry into interference, cyber-attacks, and
national security risks affecting the espionage).
Australian higher education and
research sector which was referred Also currently being conducted
to the Committee late last year. Both by PJCIS, submissions for
these Inquiries are considering how the Surveillance Legislation
their respective issue is a potential Amendment (Identify and Disrupt)
threat to our national security – Bill 2020 review closed in February,
foreign interference in Australia’s and 21 submissions were made
tertiary institutions, and the influence to the Committee from various
of extremist and radical groups on stakeholders. Among other
Australia’s social fabric. functions, this proposed Bill would
introduce three new powers for the
For the Review into the Security Australian Federal Police (AFP) and
Legislation Amendment (Critical the Australian Criminal Intelligence
Infrastructure) Bill 2020 and Commission (ACIC) to combat
Statutory Review of the Security of serious online crime including data
Critical Infrastructure Act 2018, as disruption warrants, network activity
well as the Review of the Intelligence warrants, and account takeover
Oversight and Other Legislation warrants.
Amendment (Integrity Measures)
Bill 2020, submissions for these As Chair of the Senate Environment
Inquiries closed in February. and Communications Legislation
Committee (E&C), I led the inquiry
The proposed Security Legislation into the Government’s Recycling
Amendment (Critical Infrastructure) and Waste Reduction Bills 2020,
Bill 2020, among other functions, which ended up being passed into
introduces an enhanced regulatory law in December 2020.
framework which further refines
what is currently legislated under the The importance of reforms and
2018 Bill. Recent incidents such as supporting innovation in this sector
compromises of university networks were emphasised during a visit,
and key corporate entities, and in February, to the Solo Resource
the impacts of COVID-19 illustrate Recovery facility at North Plympton.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
State Manager Adrian Rose E&C has also recently published
(pictured, page 2) is an industry reports on the National Collecting 4
leader, committed to seeing a Institutions Legislation Amendment
resource rather than waste. Bill 2020 and the Industrial
Chemicals Environmental
In late February, the Online Safety Management (Register) Bill 2020.
Bill 2021 was referred to E&C. The
Bill intends to create a modern, fit- For more information on Inquiries
for-purpose regulatory framework before Parliamentary Committees,
that builds on the strengths of the click here or scan the QR Code
existing legislative scheme for online below.
safety, including establishing the
eSafety Commissioner and setting
out the Commissioner’s functions
and powers.
IN THE
MEDIA
Work on the Main North Road, Kings infrastructure in SA.
and McIntyre Roads Intersection
Upgrade in Adelaide’s north east For more information on this project,
began in February, funded by a click here or scan the QR Code
joint $13 million Federal and State below.
Liberal Governments investment.
I represented the Australian
Government at the commencement
of works (pictured, right) – joined
by South Australian Minister for
Infrastructure and Transport,
Recreation, Sport and Racing, the
Hon Corey Wingard MP and State
Member for King, Paula Luethen
MP.
Since elected in 2013, the Coalition
has committed more than $9.8
billion for roads and transport
THE FAWCETT FLYER
5 PM DELIVERS
PRIORITIES IN 2021
In February, Prime Minister Scott Delivering on priority #1, over
Morrison laid out the Australian 100,000 Australians have now
Government’s top 5 priorities for received their COVID-19 vaccination
2021, in an address to the National as of March 10th, and there are
Press Club: now 1.3 million doses of COVID-19
vaccines in Australia.
1. Suppress the virus and
deliver the vaccine; Prime Minister Scott Morrison is
working collaboratively with National
2. Cement our economic Cabinet to ensure COVID-19
recovery to create jobs; measures and restrictions strike
3. Continue to guarantee a balance between minimising
community transmission, and
the essential services maintaining fundamental freedoms.
Australians rely on;
4. Protect and secure Our economic recovery is well
underway, and jobs are being
Australia’s interests in a created – affirming priority #2.
challenging world; and Almost 800,000 jobs were created
5. Care for our country. in the past 7 months – 90% of the
jobs lost to COVID-19 had returned
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
by late 2020. Our Government is delivering a
record $575 billion investment to 6
Business confidence in Australia defend Australians over the next
is now at its highest level since decade. I will continue to advocate
February 2010. The OECD have for constructive and appropriate
revised forecasts for Australia’s improvements to ensure we
economy – expecting it to expand also safeguard Australia’s critical
by 4.5% through 2021. systems, supply chains and
infrastructure.
In preserving Australia’s natural
beauty and the environment for
future generations – another of
the Liberal Party’s core beliefs
– and affirming priority #5, our
Government is delivering the $190
million Recycling Modernisation
Fund (RMF) – enabling practical
alternatives to shipping our waste
overseas by investing in innovative
technologies. Along with other
initiatives, the RMF is expected
to create more than 10,000 jobs
across Australia and divert more
In line with priority #3, our than 10 million tonnes of landfill from
Government is delivering record being shipped overseas each year.
funding for South Australian public
hospitals and schools in 2020/21 – While our recovery is underway,
as we have every year since elected there is still much to do. I look
in 2013. Record investments in forward to working with my Senate
Medicare and the Pharmaceutical and Parliamentary colleagues
Benefits Scheme, as Mental health towards delivering these priorities
and Aged Care are also receiving and continuing our recovery from
significant funding. the challenges of 2020. For more on
Prime Minister’s priorities for 2021,
As the Indo-Pacific region click here or scan the QR Code
experiences the most consequential below.
strategic realignment in almost 80
years, the Australian Government
is protecting Australia’s interests
within our region and throughout
the world – in line with priority #5.
THE FAWCETT FLYER
7 SA BUSINESS IMPROVING
HEALTH CARE FOR ADF
In late 2020, I joined Peter Rowland, health outcomes for our deployed
Managing Director of Micro-X and military personnel, but also have an
Andy Keough, Managing Director enormous economic benefit through
of Saab Australia as they signed job creation in manufacturing and
the $1.4 million contract for Micro- research & development here in SA.
X’s X-Ray machines (pictured)
to be included in the ADF’s new Headquartered in Mawson Lakes,
deployable health facilities, built by Saab Australia – alongside Australian
Saab. business partners Aspen Medical
Australia and Broadspectrum – is
In September last year, Saab creating more than 550 deployable
Australia announced a $337 million health modules over the course
contract with Defence Australia to of the 5-year contract to provide
develop and sustain deployable deployed troops with high-quality
military and humanitarian hospitals clinical care, wherever they are in
for the Australian Defence Force. the world. Saab confirmed that it is
These facilities will now include creating 50 new full-time positions
Micro-X’s Rover – full performance through the contract, and expects
digital medical x-ray imager, light to spend approximately $240
enough to be used in deployed million of the contract value in
medical facilities – specifically Australia. For more information on
designed, in collaboration with this development, click here or scan
Defence through the Innovation Hub the QR Code below.
program, for use in the Australian
Army operational environment.
Based at Tonsley, Micro-X’s world
first technology will not only improve
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
ATTRACTING MORE GPs 8
TO REGIONAL SA
In February, I met with Federal various employment models, as
Minister for Rural Health, Hon Mark well as fast-tracking the National
Coulton MP and the SA Health Rural Generalist Pathway program
Minister Hon Stephen Wade MLC through an investment of $62
(pictured). Health services for South million in 2019/20 to better equip
Australians living in rural and regional locally trained doctors to work in
areas was on the agenda. rural communities.
Focussing on key areas for While Minister Coulton was in
enhanced cooperation to improve Adelaide, we also met with Professor
health services for regional SA Paul Worley, the inaugural National
communities, we were looking Rural Health Commissioner and
at new approaches as well as Professor Lucie Walters, Director
building on existing programs such of The University of Adelaide Rural
as the Remote Vocational Training Clinical School to discuss better
Scheme (RVTS) which received models of training for country GPs
Federal Government funding of that would work in SA’s unique
$6.5 million annually in both 2020 demographic circumstances.
and 2021.In 2021, the Department Professor Worley and Professor
of Health is providing an additional Walters are both still practicing rural
$5million for the RVTS Extended GPs here in South Australia.
Targeted Recruitment Pilot, which
funds salary incentives for up to 10 For more information on the RVTS,
registrars. click here or scan the QR Code
below.
While there’s still more to be done to
tackle Australia’s rural GP shortage,
our Government is working to
support creative solutions to get
GPs into our regions, including
THE FAWCETT FLYER
9 NEW SPACE AGENCY
HEAD ONBOARD
As a former experimental test pilot, studied mechanical engineering at
I’ve been a strong advocate for the The University of Western Australia,
creation of the Australian Space then studied at the International
Agency (ASA) and the development Space University in Strasbourg,
of space related industry in Australia, France before becoming GM of
spanning payloads, space vehicles TSC. Mr Palermo’s background in
and launch capabilities. engineering, commercialisation and
innovation ensures he is well placed
In February, I welcomed the new to support our space industry to take
head of the ASA, Enrico Palermo on the challenges and opportunities
(pictured, right), and his Deputy, this sector faces.
Anthony Murfett (pictured, left). Mr
Parlermo was appointed to this role In our meeting, we discussed a
in November 2020, and began in range of issues including the need
Adelaide in January. to ensure the ASA becomes a
regulator which empowers industry
Mr Palermo brings significant and works towards developing
experience and knowledge with a sovereign space capability in
him to this role, including as Australia.
General Manager of The Spaceship
Company (TSC), a subsidiary of For more information on Mr
Virgin Galactic. Mr Palermo led TSC Parlermo’s appointment, click here
to become a successful spaceship or scan the QR Code below.
manufacturer at the company’s
Mojave Air and Space Port in
California, employing over 350
people.
Originally from Australia, Mr Palermo
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021OUT AND 10
ABOUT
Congratulations to David George
– City of Tea Tree Gully’s 2021
As JSCFADT Chair, I was also
Outstanding Citizen of the Year –
pleased to have Her Excellency
pictured alongside his wife Margaret
Ms Betty Pavelich, Ambassador
and Rev Mike Stevens (left). It was
of Croatia, and Her Excellency Mrs
great to join the City of Tea Tree
Marion Derckx, Ambassador for
Gully at their citizenship ceremony
the Kingdom of the Netherlands
(below) and to address the new
at a meeting of the Committee in
Australian citizens on behalf of the
February, pictured with Deputy
Australian Government on such a
Chair of JSCFADT Meryl Swanson
significant day in their lives.
MP (right).
Keep up to date on
As JSCFADT Chair, I was pleased to announcements, via
have the new Ambassador of Japan Facebook:
His Excellency Mr Shingo Yamagami @senatorfawcett
and Professor Akio Takahara meet
with the Committee recently. The
Australia-Japan relationship is one
of our closest bilateral relationships
in Asia and is fundamental to both
countries’ strategic and economic
interests.
THE FAWCETT FLYER11
Liberal Senator for South Australia
Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
Suite 4, 13/100 King William Street, Adelaide SA 5000
8205 1040
senator.fawcett@aph.gov.au
senatorfawcett.com.au
AUTHORISED AND PRINTED BY SENATOR THE HON DAVID FAWCETT, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA,
APRIL
SUITE 4, LEVEL 13, 100 KING 2018
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